After Junkyu returned to his place beside Ji Hyo, the coaches began discussing quietly among themselves, occasionally jotting down notes and exchanging glances.
The trainees stood in silence, still recovering from the nerves and adrenaline of their performances.
Finally, the main producer stepped forward once more, hands behind his back, expression calm but thoughtful.
"That concludes today's monthly evaluation," he announced, scanning the group with sharp eyes. "Each of you has strengths. Each of you also has weaknesses. But more importantly, each of you has potential—some more than others, some still waiting to be unlocked."
Coach Gunmi chimed in with a warm nod. "Some of you surprised us. Some of you showed growth. And some of you need to remember this is a competition, not a playground."
Coach Badji smirked. "But… there's also entertainment value. I mean, Baby Shark with feels? That's a first in my entire coaching career."
A few trainees laughed quietly, and Ji Hyo turned slightly red again, already regretting his song choice all over again.
"You'll receive detailed individual feedback from your instructors in your next training sessions," another coach added. "Don't wait to be told where to improve—you should already know what you lacked today."
"Also," the main producer continued, "the official results of the monthly evaluation will be posted tomorrow morning. Rankings, progress reports, and trainee assessments will be shared."
He paused for a moment before adding, "And some of you might be seeing your names under a new column. We'll leave that for tomorrow."
Whispers passed through the room immediately.
A new column?
What does that mean?
Ji Hyo glanced around nervously. He had no idea what that implied—but it couldn't be anything simple.
"That's all for today," the producer said finally. "Rest well, reflect on your performances… and come back stronger."
The coaches began to gather their things, rising from their seats as the trainees bowed and offered thanks. One by one, the boys exited the evaluation room, some chatting excitedly, others silent and contemplative.
As Ji Hyo walked out with the rest of them, he felt a strange mix of relief and anxiety swirl in his chest.
The evaluation was over.
After a long and exhausting day, Ji Hyo found himself seated in a lively hotpot restaurant tucked just a block away from Glint's trainee building.
It was already dark outside, and the neon signs flickered against the glass windows as steam curled from the bubbling broth in front of them.
He didn't even remember how he got there—only that Mo Jin had practically dragged him by the wrist, laughing and saying, "I swear your stomach's louder than the speakers in the studio today!"
"Seriously," Mo Jin added with a grin, "no wonder you collapsed last time. I bet your mom was right—you don't eat enough. You train like a beast and eat like a squirrel."
Ji Hyo scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I guess I got a little carried away…"
"You call forgetting to eat three meals in a row a little?" Mo Jin scoffed, shaking his head.
With them were June, who had also joined the dance performance earlier, Aiku, the tanned boy with smooth rap flow, and another trainee Ji Hyo hadn't initially recognized—Felix.
Felix had striking red hair that shimmered under the restaurant's lights, and a gentle charm that made him instantly approachable. He was soft-spoken but carried himself with effortless confidence, the kind that drew eyes without trying. Apparently, he was also the one who suggested the hotpot place.
Ji Hyo blinked a few times in realization. Wait… I know these guys.
As the conversation carried on, snippets of familiarity began resurfacing—shared jokes, casual banter, small quirks from each of them. The way June always exaggerated his stories. How Aiku tapped his chopsticks rhythmically even when he wasn't eating. Felix's habit of leaning slightly forward whenever someone spoke, as if absorbing every word.
They weren't strangers.
I trained with them… We've done this before.
The thought made Ji Hyo's chest warm a little. Despite the memory sync still not functioning, being here with them—laughing, eating, teasing—felt strangely comforting.
"You guys really had it out for the stage today," Aiku said, slurping his noodles. "Especially you, Ji Hyo. That Baby Shark ballad? I'm still shook."
"Seriously," June chuckled, pointing his chopsticks. "Who knew you could make a children's song sound like a tragic love story?"
"Ah, come on…" Ji Hyo groaned, covering his face with his hand.
"Cutie shark!" Mo Jin chimed in again, laughing so hard he nearly choked.
"Can we not make this a thing?" Ji Hyo muttered, sinking further into his seat as the others burst into laughter again.
"You brought this on yourself," Felix said with a small smile. "Now you'll have to live with the consequences."
Ji Hyo chuckled weakly. Great. Just great.
Still, the food was delicious, the company loud and warm, and the weight from the evaluation slowly began to melt off his shoulders.
Eventually, their table grew quieter, the energy mellowing after several rounds of meat, veggies, and noodles.
As they stepped out of the restaurant, June waved down a cab and hopped in first, leaving Mo Jin to say his goodbyes with his usual enthusiasm. "See you tomorrow! Don't be late this time, cute shark!"
Ji Hyo gave him a half-hearted wave, cheeks still burning.
Only Felix remained.
"I'll walk you home," Felix said casually.
Ji Hyo blinked. "Huh? It's fine—I can go alone."
"It's late. I don't mind."
"Seriously, it's okay. You already paid for dinner—"
"Exactly," Felix interrupted with a playful look. "One last service."
Ji Hyo frowned, feeling awkward. "Then let me send you home instead."
Felix raised an eyebrow, amused. "That doesn't make any sense, but… sure."
They shared a short walk to the bus stop, and it turned out Felix's apartment wasn't far either—just one stop away. They boarded together and sat in the back, the bus humming quietly beneath their feet.
Ji Hyo found himself glancing sideways at Felix.
He's really good-looking too… Those sharp features, that red hair… kinda unfair, honestly.
Felix caught his glance and tilted his head. "What?"
"Ah—nothing!" Ji Hyo stammered, looking out the window quickly. "I just… was thinking… thanks for dinner."
Felix smiled, resting his chin in his hand. "You already said that."
"I know. Just wanted to say it again."
"Next time, you can treat us."
"Sure… if I survive next month's evaluation."
Felix laughed softly. "You'll be fine. You're better than you think."
Ji Hyo smiled faintly at that.
The bus rumbled to a halt at Felix's stop. As Felix stood, he turned back for a second. "See you tomorrow, Ji Hyo."
"Yeah. Good night."
As the doors slid shut and the bus drove off, Ji Hyo leaned back against the window, a strange warmth lingering in his chest.
So this is what it feels like… to have friends.
"Yeah… friends."
Ji Hyo leaned his head against the cool glass of the bus window, watching the city lights flicker past in a blur. A soft smile curled on his lips.
Friends… I never had this before.
In his past life, he never had a group to laugh with. No dinners after a long day, no playful teasing, no easy camaraderie over a boiling hotpot. Most of his memories were filled with loneliness, silence, and the constant tension of living under a roof with a father who treated him like a punching bag.
But now…
Now, there were voices beside him. Laughter. Warmth.
Maybe… this life isn't so bad after all.
He was still lost in thought, eyes half-lidded, when something suddenly clicked in his brain.
Wait.
The streets outside… this wasn't familiar anymore.
His eyes widened.
"Wait—wait—wait!"
He jerked up from his seat and turned to look at the street signs flying past.
"Oh crap!"
His apartment… was near the company. The bus had already taken him two stops past it.
His quiet, sentimental moment had cost him his stop.
"Are you kidding me right now?!"
He leaped off the bus at the next stop, sighing as he looked around at unfamiliar buildings and sleepy corner shops. The night air was cooler here, and his breath fogged slightly in front of him.
"Nice job, Ji Hyo," he muttered to himself. "First you almost die from overtraining, now your far from your place because of a friendship monologue."
The system chimed suddenly in his head, clearly amused.
[Host, your emotional sentimentality is both touching and… inefficient.]
"Shut up," Ji Hyo grumbled as he shoved his hands into his coat pockets and began walking back toward the company building.
[Estimated distance: 6.2 kilometers. A healthy night stroll, excellent for digestion.]
"Yeah, well, your sarcasm is inefficient."
[System has no sarcasm module. Only factual commentary.]
Ji Hyo rolled his eyes and trudged forward.
As he walked under the faint glow of streetlights, his thoughts drifted again—this time, not to his friends, but to tomorrow's evaluation results. A nervous flutter stirred in his stomach again.
Would they really rank him? Judge him so early, when he still hadn't even adapted fully into this new life? Was there even a chance for him to shine among all these talented trainees?
He thought back to his performance—how he had managed to turn a children's song into something heartfelt. He still didn't know whether it was bold or just plain stupid. But at least… it was different.
He hoped that counted for something.
"I should've sung something cooler," he muttered to himself, kicking a loose pebble as he walked.
[Correction: You should've practiced more.]
"Can you not roast me while I'm reflecting?"
[System merely offers motivational feedback.]
"Right. Motivational," Ji Hyo said flatly, shaking his head.
As he finally reached the familiar street leading toward his apartment building, his steps slowed. The lights from the lobby windows glowed softly, welcoming him home.
Even though he had taken the wrong route, Ji Hyo somehow didn't feel so lost anymore.
Tomorrow will be another step forward.
A new challenge.